‘‘Hundreds of the trees we planted in the beginning are now over three metres tall. I’ve seen birds flying through them and balanced on their branches, other animals eating and finding shelter and building homes beneath them and this is just in the first few years. We look forward to witnessing the journey from saplings into adolescence. At Hometree we know that we might not see many (if any) reach maturity but it was a blast planting them and it's been such a pleasure to work beside so many passionate people in a simple task of planting trees. ‘‘
— Co-Founder Matt Smith
Hometree began in a small community garden project in the winter of 2014, where we saw how important it was for people to connect with nature. Hometree has planted pioneer trees - like Scots pine, willow and alder - among other native Irish trees. We have worked alongside volunteers, landowners, farmers and communities who have contributed time and resources to the vision of incorporating more trees into the Irish landscape, bringing all the benefits that woodlands create.
Our current fundraising comes from partnerships with people, businesses and the department of agriculture, who share and wish to support Hometree’s goals. Those who are curious to educate themselves and to connect to their sense of stewardship for the natural world. We’ve worked with hundreds of businesses, from small startups to multinational organisations like Medtronic, a global medical technology leader.
What began as a tree-planting charity grew into a project that endeavours to deeply connect people with nature, and facilitates a wide variety of fundamental projects to address both Ireland’s declining biodiversity and the unfolding climate challenge.
Hometree values:
Pioneering
We work at the forefront of nature restoration, prioritising new methods for restoring and protecting natural habitats. We are adaptable. In an ever changing landscape we are ready to adjust strategies to address emerging challenges and opportunities for people and nature.
Pragmatic
We are practical, science-led, open to others and to collaboration. We recognise the complex nature of the issues we are addressing. We aim to achieve positive impact for people and nature through integrated, cost-effective and workable solutions.
Nurturing
We are inclusive and empathic. We recognise the interconnectedness between people and the nature and the need for holistic solutions. We foster a sense of stewardship, nurturing healthy ecosystems and communities alike.
Board of Trustees
Manchán Magan
Trustee, Ethics and Governance Advisor
Manchán is an Irish writer and traveller who has made over thirty travel documentaries focusing on issues of world culture and globalisation, including presenting Crainn na hÉireann, TG4 and Amazon Prime’s 12-part series on native trees of Ireland. He writes regularly for The Irish Times and presents an RTÉ Radio show and podcast about the nation’s heritage - The Almanac of Ireland. His book 32 Words for Field explores the insights the Irish language offers into the landscape, lore and psyche of the country.
Dr Easkey Britton
Trustee, Ethics and Governance Advisor
Easkey is a social ecologist, surfer, writer, and artist. Her work explores the relationship between people and nature. She contributes her expertise in environmental and human health to national and international research projects including the Erasmus+ funded INCLUSEA project fostering greater inclusion for people with disabilities in surfing. Her parents taught her to surf when she was four years old and she channels her passion for surfing and the sea into social change. Her work is deeply influenced by the ocean and the lessons learned pioneering women’s big-wave surfing in Ireland. Her ground-breaking journey to Iran in 2013 to introduce the sport of surfing to women and local communities is featured in the award-winning documentary film, Into the Sea.
Dr Catherine Farrell
Catherine is a recognised expert on ecosystem recovery and community engagement. She managed the monitoring and rehabilitation of 80,000 hectares of Bord na Móna industrial cutaway bog. She is a founding member of the Irish Forum on Natural Capital and works with businesses and nature agencies to bring the role of nature into broader discussions around ecosystem health, ecosystem services, natural capital and natural capital accounting, and sustainable environments. We work closely with Catherine on ecological expertise and community engagement.
Tom Popple
Tom is CEO – Founder of BE IMPACTFUL, an impact advisory for leaders on climate and nature financing. Tom unleashes changemakers with the insights, solutions and partnerships they need to reach set climate, nature and community ambitions through net zero, positive and restorative goals. For the last decade Tom has built impact programmes for more than 200 organisations with delivery values exceeding USD 500m, including Accenture, Sky, BBC, Marks and Spencer, Diageo, Logitech, PwC, An Post and more. Tom is a Board Director of GIY, member of the Biodiversity Credit Alliance and Founder of the Climate Cocktail Club.
Dan Crockett
Dan is a director at Blue Marine Foundation focused on MPA creation, habitat restoration and ocean governance. With fifteen years of business experience, he supports Blue Marine project development and overall organisational growth, while also directing projects. His particular interest is blue carbon and valuing the ocean as a solution to climate change. He speaks broadly on this topic, including at UNFCCC COP27 and the United Nations Ocean Conference 2022.
Orlaith Delargy
Orlaith has extensive experience across the topics of climate, water and nature in both non-profits and industry. Most recently, she was Nature & Biodiversity lead for the Europe, Middle East and Africa region at KPMG, and she has also held roles as Executive Coordinator at Natural Capital Ireland and Water Security Programme Manager at environmental non-profit CDP. Orlaith is interested in bridging the worlds of nature, business and finance through clear communication and engagement. She is also passionate about living as sustainably as possible.
John Egan
John Egan is the CEO of L’Atelier BNP Paribas, a quantitative intelligence company based in Paris. L'Atelier develops next-generation, AI-driven data engines to uncover the intelligence that drives policy, investment, IP, Ecosystem and industry decisions shaping Europe’s future. Previously, John was the CEO of the Swiss network intelligence firm, Sandbox, and led the institutional business of London-based venture capital firm Anthemis Group.
Richard Bourke
Richard is qualified as an attorney in New York and California, Solicitor in England & Wales and Barrister in Ireland. He is a former board member of Amnesty International Ireland and Educate Together. He is managing director of ROADS, a luxury lifestyle brand and a founder of the Form Foundation - a public art charity that brings leading contemporary art to a broad audience in Ireland and beyond. Richard was involved with Climate Case Ireland, a legal action taken against the Irish Government for it's failure to take adequate action against climate change. The case was successfully appealed to the Supreme Court where the government's 2017 National Mitigation Plan was struck down.
Joe Gannon
Joe is an experienced leader in the public, private and NGO sectors and is personally committed to biodiversity, sustainability and action on climate change. He has recently stood down from a full time career in health services management in the UK and Ireland in order to devote more time to these activities.
Cillian Forde
Cillian is a qualified actuary working in the insurance industry in Ireland and abroad for the past ten years. He is a member of the Society of Actuaries Ireland Sustainability and Climate Change Committee. His passion for the environment, reforestation, biodiversity, climate and nature related risk originates with many years spent in the outdoors through scouts and personal pursuits.
Staff
Ray Ó Foghlú
Development Lead
Ray is a woodland conservationist. His background is in Environmental Science, where he specialised in Forests and Water Quality. He has worked for the last decade in the Irish eNGO sector. He is currently the Landowner Engagement Coordinator at Hometree Charity.
Matt Smith
CEO
Matt Smith is the CEO of Hometree Charity. In 2013 Matt also co-founded a regenerative agriculture farm. Matt is a published writer and owns an annual ocean-based publication. For a decade Matt has been a consultant and ambassador for Finisterre, a UK ethical clothing company. Matt holds a foundation degree in Natural Science and recently completed a ‘critical leadership’ course with Cumbria University with Prof Jem Bendell.
Mitch Corbett
Tree Nursery Manager
Mitch is a co-founder of Hometree. In 2013 Mitch also co-founded a regenerative agriculture farm and was the head gardener at the Cliffs of Moher Yoga centre. When he’s not out planting, harvesting, building or fixing things he reaches out to get people interested and involved in our tree planting days. Mitch strives year-round to ignite a tree planting fire in those who are interested. During the tree planting days, Mitch is out there planting as many trees as possible.
Baiba Šustere
Communications and Social Media Manager
Baiba is a movement, breath and meditation facilitator, a plant based runner, writer, environmental activist and a certified forest therapy guide. In 2019 she created Run to Plant Trees initiative to raise funds for Hometree. Baiba writes articles on sustainability, environment and conscious living, she gives talks on running, mindful living and environmental activism. This experience and knowledge Baiba brings to Hometree as a part of communications and social media team.
Sarah Broderick
Operations Manager
Sarah has 7 years experience working in environmental behaviour change and resource efficiency. Before joining the team at Hometree, she worked on projects dealing with the environmental impacts of human behaviour ranging from food production, food waste, composting and seaweed harvesting to hospitality, healthcare and large cultural events. She studied environmental science in UCC and data analytics in UCD. Sarah has experience working in habitat restoration for the University of California.
Finnian Flood
Ennistimon HQ Site Manager
Fishing, flying, forging and now forestry. Can you notice a trend? Finnian Flood has taken a unique path to end up with Hometree. He brings his eclectic experience and positive attitude to Hometree's goals of growing trees, planting native woodlands and helping people connect with nature. Motivated by the current environmental crisis and Ireland's lack of wild spaces Finnian joins Hometree after a year of volunteering.
Jeremy Turkington
Seed Collector and Seed Bank Coordinator
Jeremy has an Honors Degree in Arboriculture and Urban Forestry and a foundation degree in Rural Development and Countryside Management. He is an arborist with 17 years experience across the ecological and environmental charity and land based sectors in Ireland, specialising in ensuring genetic integrity of Forest Reproductive Material in Irish tree nurseries and fostering a consciousness of our indigenous trees and wild woodlands at local level. He has conducted research into improving biodiversity at a catchment scale without the use of subsidies.
Louise Murphy
Administrator
Lou holds a Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Development & Management from Kingston University. She worked in BMW for nearly 10 years as the finance and business manager, before leaving to return home to Ireland in 2019. Joining Hometree as the administrator Lou brings her experience and knowledge to this role as well as recognises the privilege to be able to enjoy and immerse in the natural world whilst wanting to be involved in sustaining it for future generations.
Lucy Taylor
Dinnseanchas Project Manager
Lucy’s background includes marine science, education, writing, science communication, community engagement, project management and research support. She joined Hometree to work on the Dinnseanchas project. A coastal dweller, Lucy loves exploring kelp forests as much as native woodlands and is passionate about celebrating and valuing Ireland’s natural heritage and bridging the perceived gaps between scientists, environmentalists, and other communities.
Jess Beresford
Ecologist
Jess is an ecologist with a passion for preserving natural habitats, sharing ecological knowledge and connecting with nature. She studied Zoology at Trinity College Dublin before working in Environmental Consultancy in Ireland. More recently, she was based in New Zealand working on a habitat restoration project. She believes that knowledge is power! The more everyone is out in nature, learning where they can, the better. Everyone has something to share and something to learn.
Jess Williams
Wild Atlantic Rainforest Project Manager
Jess is a conservation project manager with a wealth of experience. Before joining Hometree, she was a senior conservation officer with BirdLife International, and before this, she managed a biodiversity accreditation project for the European Landowners Organisation, which represents farmers and landowners across the EU. Her background is in international policy and project management, having worked in the European Commission and European Council for many years. As well as a love of all things ferny and mossy, she brings a vital international perspective to this groundbreaking restoration project.
Sarah O’Connor
Executive Assistant
Sarah, a seasoned project manager, brings nearly two decades of professional experience to her role, with a robust background in the banking sector and notable experience in the tech and wellness industries. Throughout her career, Sarah has predominantly focused on leadership support, driven by a strong sense of self-motivation and a deep satisfaction in delivering results. Originally from Antrim, Sarah moved to County Clare, captivated by its unique landscape, coastal beauty, and vibrant energy. Sarah is thrilled to join the team at Hometree, eager to leverage her diverse skills and experience to contribute to Hometree's mission of establishing and conserving permanent native woodland.
Caroline Stott
Head of Community
Caroline brings two decades of experience managing and delivering transformational programmes for individuals and communities across Africa, America, and Europe. As Head of Community at Hometree, Caroline fosters inclusive, equitable practices that support a diverse range of people to connect with nature, nurturing healthy ecosystems and communities alike. Caroline has a degree in Arts Education, a post graduate degree in Community Education & Development, and a diploma in Personal and Executive Coaching.
Third Party Support
Hometree has grown from a small voluntary charity to a staffed charity with 17 employees since 2021. During this period of establishment and growth, the charity is so grateful to have the support of reputable organisations on in the areas of finance, legal and governance.
Fitzgerald Power Accountancy and Business Advisory
Fitzgerald Power looks after Hometree Charities accounts, invoicing and tax compliance. With 47 staff they have deep and broad expertise in auditing, corporate finance, taxation, online solutions, outsourcing, business acquisitions and disposals, as well as corporate fundraising.
William Fry
William Fry looks after all of Hometree legal undertaking including employee contracts, land conveyancing, compliance and governance advisory. They are one of Ireland's largest legal firms working across the full breadth of the business sector, offering expert legal advice to domestic and international corporations, financial institutions and government organisations.
Midwest Corporate Services
Hometree utilise Midwest Corporate Service for statutory document submission, report filing and onboarding board members. Midwest corporate services are chartered secretaries in public practice providing independent company formation and company secretarial Services to company directors, accountants and solicitors nationally and internationally.
Three Branches of Legitimacy
We are a Registered Charity Number (RCN) 20206254; all income is directed towards the core purpose of encouraging biodiversity and land regeneration.
All woodlands created by Hometree will be planted and managed according to the best available ecological advise/practise provided by our ecological advisory board.